Waterfall Eclipse

The Agreement

Chapter Forty:

The Agreement

Captain Hitsugaya sat with Rani until Captain Kuchiki came back.

"Hi captain." She greeted solemnly as her thoughts were jumbled in her head.

"Miss Tómasu? You okay?"

Rani was silent before answering her captain.

"Yes, and no. Why did you give me permission?"

"I knew you could control your Shikai. I had no doubts that you wouldn't kill them."

"But that wasn't a battle that qualified under our agreement."

"No, you're right. But I made the decision to have you use it. You would have eventually beaten them with your katana, but you would be back in Squad Four." She nodded in agreement to his reasoning. "Now tell me who were those three?"

"Just some classmates from the academy that hate me apparently." She said as she looked at her captain, who was staring at her.

"What happened?"

"They tried to attack me one night while I was walking to my room from Kiyomi's, but I guess I raised my Reiatsu in fear and Lieutenant Hisagi came and scared them off. I was so shaken I didn't go to class for two days. When I woke up, I was in Squad Four. I never bothered to find out what became of them."

"Don't feel bad. They are getting disciplined by Captain Zaraki right now. He said he'd bring them before the Captain Commander for you."

"Thank you, captain." She replied. She wanted to ask him if they could postpone the Shikai training session, but she refrained from doing so.

"Tómasu, I'm canceling it for today. Sorry, Captain Hitsugaya. I have some paperwork now that needs to be filled out regarding this."

"Understood. Let me know the next time you're in charge of the session, if you don't mind."

"Not at all." He said and then left leaving the two in the vast training grounds.

"Will I be in trouble with the Captain Commander? We aren't supposed to attack other Shinigami unless ordered to do so." Rani asked the remaining captain, still with her back turned to him.

"I doubt it. You defended yourself from attackers, with verbal permission from your captain. He and I both watched and you kept your katana at bay until the last moment. I'll make a statement to accompany his report, if you want me to."

"Thank you Captain Hitsugaya. I'd appreciate it if it would help."

"If it puts your mind at ease, I'll do it."

"You want to know why I had to be told to use it, don't you? And what the agreement is?"

"I had wondered." He replied as she turned around and sat down on a boulder.

"Back when I first came to Squad Six, Captain Kuchiki gave me a schedule, and on it was Shikai Training. Before I had my first session, he had me go to his office where Lieutenants Abarai and Kuchiki were there. He informed me that I was only to ever use my Shikai in these training sessions. Nowhere else. If I did, he had the authority to dole out whatever punishment he deemed fit the crime. There was a contract and everything that we had to sign. In the agreement, the captain and lieutenants would be able to bypass the contract by verbally giving me permission if the situation called for it."

"So the Hollow and Menos attack while you were on leave – when you said he could discipline you later, that was about your Shikai?"

"Yes, since I used it on that Menos to help you. It was also because he had technically ordered me to say by the pool area and not help out. I am glad I didn't listen."

"So am I." He half joked.

She smiled as she quickly stood up, feeling dizzy immediately after and falling into him.

"You okay?" He asked concerned after he caught her.

"Sorry. I think I stood up too quick." She replied. "You can let go captain."

"No. I don't want to risk you falling." He stated. "Come on, I'll help you to your room. Get on my back."

Rani had wanted to fight him on his suggestion, but her body said otherwise.

"Fine, but don't think this means anything." She stated.

Within moments she was at her door.

"Think you can stand?"

"Yes. Thank you Captain Hitsugaya."

He gently put her down, holding onto her hands, which he did not let go of.

"I think it's best you just take it easy. I think you being traumatized today by comrades is bad enough. I'll go talk to your captain and let him know."

"You don't have to."

"No, I don't. I want to though. And I am getting someone here from Squad Four. I don't like how your Reiatsu fluctuates."

"I think I've always had that problem, if you think about it."

He just looked at her. He watched her get into the room and lay on the bed before headed to Captain Kuchiki's office. After a quick report, he then headed to Squad Four where Lieutenant Kotetsu said she would stop by Rani's room in thirty minutes to check on her.

Instead of making his way back to Squad Ten, he went into Squad Five and found Lieutenant Hinamori struggling with paperwork.

"Want help?" He inquired.

"Captain Hitsugaya! What a nice surprise!" She said shocked. "If you want to, you can. I can't seem to get these new forms."

He smiled as he walked in, closed the door and then sat down next to her.

"You shut my door? You know I have an open door policy, right?"

"Today I am saying you have a closed door, so get over it."

"Really? Aren't we acting a bit childish?"

"Maybe Momo. But I will help you with these, if you give me your honest opinion on a few things."

"Opinions I can do. You have a deal."

"Tómasu."

"What about Rani?"

"I want to know if you think I'll ever have a chance at dating her."

"Toshiro, I know - " She started then saw his shocked expression. "What?"

"Nothing. I'll tell you later."

"Anyway, I know you've told her you loved her, and that you gave her all of those roses because you love her. At least you're not afraid to say it. But what was her reaction when she told you that? What did she say? If nothing, she either doesn't love you or was too embarrassed to admit it to herself, and you." She said then paused. "You might have a chance with her. And I will tell you the same thing I told you when she was on leave. Give her time to sort out her life. She's trying to get into a groove here in the Gotei 13. She even had to switch squads to do it."

"I know we're Shinigami, but I feel that time is something we don't have."

"Toshiro, you need to give her time and space. She will come around. You have to let her, and don't force her."

"So I guess wanting to kiss her again would have been a bad idea."

"Kiss her again? Today? When were you going to do that? At her training session?" He nodded. "And you didn't?" He shook his head. "Smart move. She would have slapped you."